Apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers



April 20 1926.

K. K. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR RINSING AND STERILIZING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 14; 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ril 20 926. AP K. K. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR RINSING AND STERILIZING CONTKINERS Filed Nov. 14. 1922 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'April 20,1926. 1,581,502

1 K. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR RINsING AND STERILIZING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 14, 1922 Y s SheesSheet :5

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

. 1 1,581,502 PATENT OFFICE.

KIRK K. WRIGHT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, TO B. G. 'WBIGHT-& 00., O1

BUFFALO, YORK.

APPARATUS FOR BINSING AND STERILIZING CONTAINERS.

Application filed November 14, 1822. Serial No. 600,908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KIRK K. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Rinsing and Sterilizing Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' improvements in apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing milk cans or similar containers.

Devices have heretofore been used for rinsing and sterilizing containers of this kind, but these devices are so' constructed that it is necessary for the operator to manipulate a valve or valves for first discharging the rinsing Water into the container and then admitting steam or other sterilizing medium thereto. Devices of this kind, however, require the attention of an operator and also the operation of rinsing and sterilizing is dependent upon the judgment of the operator.

The objects of this invention are to provide a rinsing and sterilizing apparatus of this kind in which the placing of the can in an inverted position on the apparatus automatically causes a definite quantity of rinsing water to be discharged into the can and then subjects the can to the action of a sterilizing medium, such as steam, thereby making it unnecessary for the operator to manipulate any valves; also to provide a machine of this kind in which a fresh supply of water may be used for rinsing each can; also to improve the construction of devices of this. kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a can rinsing and sterilizing apparatus embodying the invention, the section being taken on line 1-1, Fig. 6. I

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional plan views thereof on lines 22 and 3-3 resp actively,

Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation thereof on line 4+4, Fig. 7, showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when a can is placed on the apparatus.

Fig. l is a central sectional view of a steam valve used in connection with this apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof on a reduced scale. A Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 77, Fig. 1;

Fi 8 isa perspective view of a valve housing showing the same detached from the apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a fra 'mentary sectional elevation of the valve housing of the apparatus showing the water valve open to admit water to the lower reservoir.

Briefly stated, the device embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawing, includes a drain trough or table having a pivoted grid or support for the cans, which support is swung by the weight of the can into a position to actuate a valve to admit steam or other sterilizing medium under pressure'to an ejector. This ejector is connected with a spray pipe adapted to direct sprays of rinsing and sterilizing media into the interior of the can and first ejects a quantity of rinsing waterfrom a reservoir and passes the water through the spray pipe into the can for rinsing the same. After the water has been ejected from therese'rvoir, the steam itself passes through the ejector and spray pipe into the can and sterilizes the same. The pressure of the steam also operates a Watervalve for interruptmg the supply of Water to a reservoir and tlns valt-'e is so arranged that when the steam is turned on by the placing of a can upon the apparatus, the, water valve will be closed to interrupt the flow of water to the reservoir, and when the steam is turned off, the water valve opens to admit water to the lower reservoir.

The apparatus shown in the accompanyin drawing includes a base A having suitab 6 feet or legs a supporting the apparatus from the floor. The upper portion of the base is adapted to form a reservoir (1. for the rinsing'liquid to be discharged to the can, and the base also forms a support for a tubular frame member B. In the construction shown, the lower end of the tubular frame member extends into the reservoir a of the base and the reservoir is provided with suitable supporting ribs or lugs on which the frame member B may rest and set screws 0 are used to secure the frame member to I the base. The reservoir a is preferably provided with-an overflow dischar e pipe a, that shown bein connected to the ottom the reservoir. extending above a of the reservoir an 4 extending upwardly to any desired height to discharge water tram pre et'ermined lev'eL- This pipe is prefera 1y so arranged that it may be swung about its connection with the reservoir to place the upper end of the pipe at different elevations so that the quantity ofwater in the lower reservoir may beregulated as desired. The

" an inclined upper end of the-tubular frame member B is connected by means of screws 6 or the like with legs 0 of a drain trough'or table C.

,These legs are, in the construction shown,

, bottom 0 serves to drain the rinsing water toward one side of the trough from where it may be withdrawn by means of a pipe 0.

' The upper portion of the wall of the trough preferably flares outwardly asshown at 01*, so as to guide the cans toward the center of the trough or table C. D represents a spray pipe for the rinsing and sterilizin media,

the upper end of which has a ischarge nozzle (1 which extends through a hole pref- .erably centrally arranged in the inclined bottom c of the drain .trough and the bottom of the trough is preferably rovided with an integral, upwardly exten ing, an-

nular flange 0 which surrounds the spray pipe D and prevents the rinsing water from tom into the lower portion of the apparatus, so that the rinsing water is used only once and does not contaminate fresh water supplied to the apparatus. Preferably the nozzle rests on the upper edge of the annular flan e c". Y Y,

T e drain trough O isprovided with a pivoted grid or can support E which is movable by theweightof the can so as to cause the apparatus to operate. This gridis, in

.theyconstruction shown,.pivoted at e in a recess in the, annular wall 0 of the drain trough and the grid is provided with a cen- 1 tral aperture 6' through which-the discharge nozzle of the spray pipe D may pass and I with other apertures 6 through which the as shown in Fig. 1 byany suitable means,-

" rinsing water may flow. The grid or sup- V port is normally held in an inclined position such for example as a coil spring 6 arranged around the annular flange c. The

- springe is adaptedto yield when the can is placed on the grid E and permits the grid to move into the position shown in Fig. 4r

in which the upper surface thereof will be substantially horizontal. The grid is preferably provided with ears or lugs e extendin upwardly from the upper face of' the grid and which serve as stops againstshown in the drawings, the steam valve F has a stem f on which rests a slidable pin :Which isguided in a boss 7' preferably formed integral with the bottom 0. of the drain trough.- 'The upper end of this pin extends into operative-relation to a lug or boss i formed on the grid or support E so that when the grid is depressed by an 1nverted can resting thereon, the lug f presses the pin'f downwardly to cause this valve to open. The steam valve is connected by means of a pipe f to any suitable supply of steam. The steam after passing through the valve is discharged into a pipe f which extends downwardly through the tubular body I portion B and into the base of the apparatus, where this pipe connects with a pipe or conduit f suitably secured by means of a projecting Stud 1? to the base of the apparatus. This pi e f discharges the steam into an ejector which may be of any suitable or Well known construction. In the particular construction shown in the drawings,

which the steam passes from pipe f, and a discharge pipe 9. The steam nozzle 9 and dischal i 6 are. arran ed in a housing passing through the central h l -i the g P P g g in which a water inlet pipe 9 terminates,

-the lower end of this pipe extending into the ejector includes a steam nozzle '9 through bottom of the rinsing water reservoir 0;. VVhen' the water has been withdrawn from' the rinsing water reservoir a, the steam alone passes through the discharge pipe 9. An ejector of any other 'constructionmay be em loyed if desired.

11 order to prevent a fresh supply of water from entering the reservoir (1 while the steam is turned on and thus to ensure a steadysupply of steam to the can during the.sterilizing'operation, the steam pressure is preferably utilized to actuate a valve for shutting off-the supply of water to the reservoir a. For this purpose. in the construction shown, the ejector G is connected with a water valve housing H so that the rinsing water and steam from the discharge "1o terminates in or is connected with the valve feed tank I for therinsing water.

pipe of the ejector into the valvehousmg. This water valve housing may beof any suitable or desired construction, that shown including 'a pair of substantially cyl ndrical passages, oneof these pmages 72. forming a guide for a water valve It and theother passage 72. being connected with the spray pipe D. The two passages in the valve housing are joined by means of a connecting passage k and the ejector preferably guide passage h of the valve housing.

The upper end of the valve'guide passage his connected with any desired source of supply of rinsing waterythe valve passage.

in the construction shown being connected with a pamage or conduit-z of a supply or his tank may be of any suitable or desired construction and preferably rests ona plate 11 arranged at the top of the valve housing H.- A water supply pipe 11 discharges water into the supply tank I and a valve or other suitable means, not shown,- is preferably provided for regulating the supply of water to the tank I. The valve guide passage 12. is also provided in its side near the upper portion thereof with openings or. ports h which are so arranged .with reference to the valve 71. that when. the valve is in its lower position as indicated in Fig. 9,-the water from'the upper or supply tank I may flow rapidly through the passage 2' and openings or ports h into the lower 'remrvoir a.

- The valve normally drops by gravity into the position shown in Fig. 9, butwhen the .steam is turned on by the placingof a can upon the grid E, the pressure of steam causes the valve k to rise in the valve guide close the openings or ports 7:. and thus pre-' .vent the flow of water from g the upper passage in and seat against the plate 71. and

tank Iinto the lower reservoir 11 while the steam is turned on, It is not intended to limit this invention to the formof water supply means shown, .but it is preferred to use a supply tank since the pres sure of water therein against the water valve is small, so that the valve may'be made of large size to permit the water to flow quickly from the supply reservoir to the lower reservoir. I The supply tank, in the construction shown, is substantially 'cylindrical in form except for a flat side 7?. which is provided for the purpose of affording room for the steam pipe f to pass between the tank and the tubular frame member B.

Inthe operationof the apparatus, upon the placing of a can in an inverted posi-" tion upon the grid or support E,fthe steam valve F is opened by'the weight of the can, thus admitting steam to the ejector G. This causes water to 'be discharged from the ejector into the water valve housing H, which first causes the'closing of the water valve, h I and then causes water to be dischargedthroughthe spray pipe D intov the can on the grid, The ejector withdraws the water fr'om'thelower reservoir and'as v soon as the supply of water in the lower reservoir is exhausted steam alone will pass upwardly through the (ejector and spray pipe from which it is-dischar into the can to sterlize the same. During the flow ofsteaniinto the can, the water 'valve' h is.

held in its closed position so that no water is admitted into the lower reservoir. This is an important feature since otherwise water would mix with the steam during the sterilizing operation of the apparatus which would reduce the temperature of the steam and thus interfere with the effective sterilization of the can. The apparat-usis intended to be fed by hand by the operator wholwashes the cans. After a can has been washed it is placed .upon the rinsing-'iand sterilizing apparatus and the operator proceeds to wash another can. As soon as the next can is washed the operator removes the first canfrom the rinsing and sterilizing a paratus and places the'second can thereon.

uring the interval that the first can is re- .moved from the apparatus, the steam is turned off and the water valve h moves into its lower position, thus permitting the charge of water from the supply tank I to discharge into the lower reservoir.

The apparatus has the advantages that none of .the operators time is taken in the manipulation of valves, since the mere placing of a can upon the grid E controls the grid E so that the judgment of the operator with reference to the time required for thoroughly sterilizing a can is not required. By using an ejector instead of otherwise using the steam pressure to force the water from the reservoir to the container, cold water can be used for rinsing, which in turn makes it possible to use fresh water for rinsing each container without requiring a large amount of fuel to heat the water.

The inventionhas been herein described and shown 1n the drawings as applied to rinsing and sterilizing milk cans, but'it is not intended to limit the invention to such use, since it is obvious that the invention:

may be used in -connection with cleansing containers of other kinds.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a sup port for a container, a spray pipe for discharging rinsing and sterilizing media to said container, an ejector connected with said spray pipe, means for admitting steam to said ejector, and means for admitting a limited quantity of rinsing liquid to said ejector during the operation thereof whereby first rinsing liquid and then steam are discharged to the container.

2. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a spray pipe adapted to discharge cold rinsing liquid and steam into a container, a reservoir for containing rinsing liquid under atmospheric pressure, an ejector connected with said reservoir for first drawing a quantity of rinsing liquid from said reservoirand discharging the same to said spray pipe, and

thendischarging steam tosaid spray pipe, and a valve for admittingsteam'to said ejector. 4

3. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a reservoir adapted to contain a limited quantity of cold rinsing liquid, an ejector connected with, said reservoir for first drawing the rinsing liquid by suction from said reservoir and discharging the same to a container, and then discharging steam to said container, and a valve for controllin the supply of steam to said ejector, where y a single actuation of said valve causes the discharge of first rinsing liquid and then steam to said container.

4. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a support for a container, a steam valve which is opened by the placing of a container on said support, a reservoir for cold rinsing Water, and an ejector having a connection through which the steam is conducted from said valve and a connection with said water reservoir and which withdraws rinsing water by suction from said reservoir and discharges the same to said container and which discharges steam to the container when a predetermined quantity of rinsing water has been withdrawn from said reservoir.

5. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a support for a container, a spray pipe for discharging rinsing and sterilizing media to said contamer, ane ector connected with said-spray pipe, means for admitting a limited quantity of rinsing liquid to said ejector during the operation thereof whereby first rinsing liquid and then steam are dischar ed to the container, and means controlled %y the placing of a container on said support for supplying steam to said ejector.

6. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a steam operated ejector for discharging rinsing fluidand steam to a container-,a reservoir for supplying rinsing fluid under substantially atmospheric pressure to said ejector, an overflow pipe on saidreservoir which is adjustable for controlling the quantity of rinsing fluid to be supplied to said ejector, and means for controlling the supply of steam to said ejector.

7. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizin containers, the combination of a reservoir adapted to contain a definite quantity of rinsing fluid, a steam ejector for withdrawing rinsing fluid therefrom by suction and projecting the same at-a container, means for supplying steam to said ejector to cause the same to first withdraw rinsing fluid from said reservoir and discharge the same at said container and then to discharge steam to the container, means for supplying rinsing fluid to said reservoir, and a valve positioned to be acted upon by steam and rinsing fluid discharged from said ejector to interrupt the supply of rinsing fluid to said reservoir during the operation of said ejector.

8. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a reservoir adapted to contain a definite quantity of rinsing fluid, a steam ejector for withdrawingrinsing fluid therefrom by suction and projecting the same at a container, means for supplying steam to said ejector to cause the same to first withdraw rinsing fluid from said reservoir and discharge the same at the container and then to discharge steam at the container, a supply tank arranged above said reservoirand adapted to supply rinsing fluid thereto, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said supply tank to said reservoir, said valve being adapted to be closed by the pressure of the fluid discharged from said ejector.

9. In an apparatus for rinsing and sterilizing containers, the combination of a reservoir adapted to contain a definite quantity of rinsing fluid, a steam ejector for withdrawing rinsing fluid therefrom by suction and tank, a valve housing arranged below said tank and connected with the discharge end of said ejector, a valve in said valve housing adapted to interrupt the flow of liquid from said supply tank to said reservoir when said ejector discharges fluid to said valve housing.

10. In an apparatus for rinsing and steri-' lizing containers, the combination of a support fora container, a nozzle for discharging rinsing and sterilizing fluids t0 the container, i

tainer, connections between said tank and said reservoir to cause rinsing fluid to be rapidly admitted from said tank to said reservoir when no fluid is being discharged through said nozzle, and a discharge device wlnch'first supplies rinsing fluid from said reservoir to said nozzle to be discharged to the container and then discharges StBI'lllZlIlg fluid through said nozzle to said container.

KIRK K. WRIGHT. 

